In comedy of errors, men accused of wiping gov databases turned to an AI tool
In a bizarre turn of events, two brothers who were previously convicted for hacking into U.S. State Department systems have once again found themselves in legal trouble, this time for attempting to destroy government records immediately after being terminated from their contractor positions. Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, both 34 years old and hailing from Alexandria, Virginia, were working as federal contractors for a Washington, D.C.-based company that provides software and services to 45 U.S. agencies. Following their firing on February 18, the brothers wasted no time in launching a coordinated effort to delete sensitive databases and documents belonging to three government agencies, as revealed by an indictment recently unsealed by the Department of Justice.
The timeline of events is both alarming and almost comical. The Akhter brothers were let go at approximately 4:55 PM, and within just five minutes, they attempted to access their employer’s system to carry out their malicious plan. While one brother’s access had already been terminated, the other managed to breach a government agency’s database stored on their employer’s server. In a flurry of reckless commands, he attempted to prevent other users from accessing the database and ultimately issued a command to delete a staggering 96 databases. Many of these databases contained sensitive investigative files and records related to Freedom of Information Act matters, raising serious concerns about the potential impact of their actions on government transparency and security.
This incident underscores the ongoing risks associated with insider threats in federal contracting, especially when individuals with prior convictions for cybercrime are involved. The brothers’ attempt to leverage artificial intelligence in their scheme raises questions about the intersection of technology and criminal activity, highlighting how quickly things can go awry when individuals act impulsively. As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent oversight and security protocols in safeguarding sensitive government information. The Akhter brothers now face serious charges, and their latest escapade is likely to reignite discussions about cybersecurity and the integrity of federal contractors in the digital age.
Two sibling contractors convicted a decade ago for hacking into US State Department systems have once again been charged, this time for a comically hamfisted attempt to steal and destroy government records just minutes after being fired from their contractor jobs.
The Department of Justice on Thursday
said
that Muneeb Akhter and Sohaib Akhter, both 34, of Alexandria, Virginia, deleted databases and documents maintained and belonging to three government agencies. The brothers were federal contractors working for an undisclosed company in Washington, DC, that provides software and services to 45 US agencies. Prosecutors said the men coordinated the crimes and began carrying them out just minutes after being fired.
Using AI to cover up an alleged crime—what could go wrong?
On February 18 at roughly 4:55 pm, the men were fired from the company, according to an
indictment
unsealed on Thursday. Five minutes later, they allegedly began trying to access their employer’s system and access federal government databases. By then, access to one of the brothers’ accounts had already been terminated. The other brother, however, allegedly accessed a government agency’s database stored on the employer’s server and issued commands to prevent other users from connecting or making changes to the database. Then, prosecutors said, he issued a command to delete 96 databases, many of which contained sensitive investigative files and records related to Freedom of Information Act matters.
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